Deep inside the plan of the President of Donald trump in the fight against opioid abuse was overshadowed by his call for the death penalty for some drug dealers, the impetus for the increased use of medications to treat addiction.
This is a rare instance in which trump tries to roll back the Obama administration’s policy, and where recalcitrant Republicans and Democrats in Congress came together.
Trump said last month that “we make drug treatment more accessible and affordable,” even after Congress is working to approve $1 billion for a new grant program of treatment with opioids within the massive spending bill to keep the government running.
Not to offer such treatment for opioid addiction as “trying to treat the infection without antibiotics,” the new health and services human Secretary Alexei Azarov said at a meeting of the Republican governors Association earlier this year.
Experts have long argued that medical treatment should be standard treatment for people dependent on heroin and other opioid drugs. But the adoption lags. Cost is a barrier, and Government regulations. Some of the treatment drugs are opioids themselves and there is no consensus on how long patients should remain in circulation.
In its final year, the Obama administration pushed through Congress $ 1 billion on opioid crisis state subsidies. This $ 500 million was supposed to be released last year and $ 500 million this year. States must demonstrate that their opioid program based on clinical data, medication-assisted treatment has received a huge boost.
Budget 2018 provides another $ 1 billion.
“The government is talking about treatment and pharmacological treatment in such a way that the government had never done before,” says Tom hill, Vice President of addiction and recovery in the national Council for mental health, which advocates for mental health and addiction treatment.
Death from an overdose of heroin, and synthetics such as fentanyl and analgesic, has reached 42 000 in 2016, according to the latest statistics.
“It is considered a disorder,” said Elinore McCance-Katz, assistant to the Minister of health on mental health issues and substance abuse. “Of course, the government recognizes the disease of addiction as it relates to opioids and other substances — opioids, but, of course, an emergency.”
Grants are awarded to States on the basis of various factors, including deaths from overdoses and the number of people who can’t find treatment.
Vermont was hard hit by the epidemic of drug addiction and is one of the States that have received Federal money for medical therapy. Its main goal is to improve access, according to the report about recipients of the Grant from the Federal substance abuse and mental health services.
In Massachusetts, this plan is aimed at pregnant women and young mothers. Indiana wants to focus on rural residents.
Analysis of the New England non-profit Institute for Clinical and economic review found that every dollar invested in treatment will bring about 1,80 $in savings, when factoring in the costs to society in loss of productivity and crime.
One doctor Vermont, Dr. Deborah Richter, said the drugs helped her patients, especially when combined with counseling.
“People went back to what they were before addiction took them” she said.
As a doctor, “it was on a personal level so it is useful to save the children of other mothers.”
Skeptics of the government emphasis on drug therapy say that it is not a panacea.
Jonathan Goyer, program Manager anchor recovery in Pawtucket, Rhode island, he said he sees a lot of patients who do not want to take medication because they want to be free from drugs at all.
“We have to increase drug therapy,” said Goyer. “But we also need to increase everything else.”
In nil recovery centers Kennedy in Youngstown, Ohio, Director of outpatient pam Ramsey says her program emphasizes medication as an aid and not as the sole treatment.
“It’s really a help in treatment,” said Ramsey. Along with medication, the treatment includes a version of the traditional 12-step approach to care, counselling, group meetings, and the following. “Our goal remains abstinence.”
Contractor home remodeling Judy, Rob said that he struggled with heroin addiction for over 20 years. Only medication does not prevent him free drugs or religious programs.
Finally Judy enrolled in a complex treatment at Neil Kennedy.
Medications extinguish “the fire of the active matter to Wake and use,” said Judy. But he says that you need to follow up with counseling, peer support and follow-up treatment.
“I believe that drug abuse is based on and resulting from the loss, and the basis of his pain,” said Judy. “If You don’t address these issues, sooner or later you are going to relapse.”
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
